Dawn heard her brother in her and saw that she wore the same scowl as Cree did when angry and determined. She gestured as if holding a bairn.
“Sleeping and since I am being kept from doing the same, I am going to kill anyone who dares to step off those stairs.”
Dawn smiled and nodded.
The two women waited—weapons in hand—prepared to do what they must to protect those they loved. The clash of swords continued, but they heard no one on the stairs. They continued to wait, ready to fight when it seemed that the fighting stopped suddenly.
They sent one another cautious glances, the same thought on both their minds. They wanted to believe Cree was victorious, but they would take no chance until they knew for sure.
Footfalls came rushing up the stairs and Dawn raised her sword and Wintra her dagger, both women ready to strike.
“Wintra!”
“Torr!” Wintra called out and flew into his arms as he stepped off the stairs.
Dawn smiled as the two hugged tightly, happy for them and relieved.
“Cree’s warriors arrived? All is well?"
“Dawn!” Torr shouted out, recalling he had not seen her.
She stepped forward where he could see her.
“Thank God, you are both well.” He saw the two dead bodies, then looked to his wife.
“I could not let Dawn face the two alone.”
Dawn nodded and pointed to the dagger Wintra still held and the sword she held, then gave a firm nod at her.
“Are you telling me my wife killed them both?”
Wintra quickly explained. “Hugo killed Cathan, who was helping him, and I killed Hugo, who deserved to die ten times over.”
The baby suddenly cried out, followed by another cry that had Wintra and Torr hurrying into her room.
Dawn stared after them, thinking that if anything had happened to Cree, Torr would have told her. Hurried footfalls on the stairs had her spinning around with a smile. It vanished in an instant when she saw it was not her husband.
“Where is Margaret?” the man demanded, blood dripping from the sword at his side.
Dawn raised her sword.
“You dare raise your sword against me?”
Dawn nodded toward him and shrugged, though she doubted that he understood that she asked who he was.
“You are Cree’s wife, the woman without a voice.”
Cree appeared, stepping around the man to stand protectively in front of his wife. “My wife speaks more loudly than those with a voice.”
Dawn lowered her sword and her smile returned, her husband obviously knowing the man and not surprised, but always pleased when her husband defended her.
Cree turned and went to his wife, taking the sword from her hand. “You did well. I am proud of you.”
Normally Cree would have had her in his arms by now, something was amiss.
“I want to see Margaret now!” the man demanded. “Remove her burial shroud so I may look upon her.”
Two soldiers suddenly appeared and stood to either side of the man and though she recognized the garments of the royal guard, she had realized who it was who stood before her when he demanded to see Margaret—King Alexander.
Dawn bowed her head respectfully and did as the King commanded. She opened the door to Margaret’s room and walked over to the bed.
The King entered the room slowly, almost hesitantly, and Cree followed him in to stand to the side. The two guards remained outside of the room, standing to either side of the open door.
Dawn eased the blanket down to Margaret’s waist.
“What is this?” King Alexander’s sharp shout had the two guards entering the room. He pointed to Margaret. “You do not have the decency to prepare her properly? You leave her resting on her side? You do not wrap her? I will see you punished—”
“You will do no such thing, Alexander, the woman saved my life.”
Dawn leaned down to help Margaret turn and sit up. It took a moment, her movements slow and laborious.
King Alexander stared at her in disbelief, as if watching her rise from the dead. “Margaret.”
She stretched her hand out to him. “I had faith you would come and rescue me.”
Dawn stepped away from the bed as the King approached.
He took her hand, kissed it firmly, and sat on the bed beside her. “I was told you died.”
Margaret turned a smile on Dawn. “Dawn let Cathan believe I died and I thought I was dying. Dawn believed differently and once Cathan left the room, she was quite vocal, in her unique way, that she would not allow me to die. She fought bravely for my life.”
“I will remember this, Dawn,” the King said, turning a grateful look on her.
A tear slipped from Margaret’s eye. “My sister betrayed me. I had little time to get a missive off to you before running for my life. I remembered meeting Cree and how you trusted him. I was on my way to his home to seek safe shelter until you could reach me when the snowstorm struck. Unfortunately, men of dubious character had taken over this decaying keep and one knew who I was. The fools thought to ransom me.” Margaret raised her hand to cover a yawn that rose.
“You are tired from your ordeal. You need to rest,” the King insisted.
“Please, Alexander, take me out of here. I cannot bear to spend another moment in this wretched place,” she begged.
The King turned to Cree. “Your keep is not far, is it?”
“If we leave soon, we can reach it by nightfall,” Cree informed him.
The King looked to his guards, though quickly shifted his glance to Dawn. “Margaret is well enough to travel?”
Dawn held her hands out as if holding reins and bounced up and down, then shook her head.
“I understand that. You say she cannot ride a horse. I brought along an enclosed wagon,” the King said. Once Dawn nodded her approval, the King turned to his guards. “See that all is ready for departure. We take our leave shortly.”
Margaret brushed at the tears in her eyes. “I do so love you, Alexander.”
“You have my love and my heart, Margaret, and always will.” He brushed her hand aside and wiped at her tears with his thumb. “I am so sorry this ordeal caused the loss of our child.”
Margaret smiled. “You underestimate Dawn’s tenacity. She not only insisted that she would not let me die, but our bairn as well.”
Dawn caught the look of surprise not only on the King’s face, but Cree’s as well.
The King looked around. “I see no bairn.”
“And nor should you. I begged Dawn to save our bairn’s life right after I gave birth. I feared Cathan might return to make certain I was dead. She paid heed to my fears and took the bairn to Cree’s sister, Wintra, in the other room. To anyone who may have entered there, it would seem that Wintra gave birth to twins.”
“Our child lives?” the King asked, looking to Dawn.
She nodded and rushed out of the room to return with a little wrapped bundle in her arms. She held the child out to the King.
“Alexander, I am pleased to present to you—your daughter,” Margaret said.
The King smiled at the tiny lass, sleeping contently in his arms. “She has red hair just like mine.” His expression turned serious. “I will see her well provided for and arrange a good marriage for her when the time comes.”
“I thank you for that, Alexander,” Margaret said, reaching out to rest her hand on his arm.
“And I thank you for this beautiful daughter.”
Dawn slipped away, her husband closing the door behind them as they left the room together.
The door was barely closed when Cree took his wife in his arms. “You did well, wife, but then I had faith that you would,” —he grinned— “but then you—”
Dawn waited to hear him tell her that she was stubborn.
“Have a caring heart and I would expect no less from you,” Cree finished and kissed her, a lingering kiss that left them both wanting more. He nibbled along her ear to whispe
r, “I cannot wait to get you alone in our bedchamber tonight, since our full day in bed will have to wait until the King leaves.”
Dawn frowned.
“I am disappointed as well.”
She shook her head, then quickly nodded.
“No, yes, which is it?” Cree asked.
Dawn circled her head with her finger.
“The King,” Cree said, “this is about the King?”
Dawn nodded and pointed at the room.
“Margaret too,” —annoyance sparked in his eyes— “damn, we must surrender our bedchamber to the King and Margaret for as long as they remain at the keep.”
Dawn nodded and pointed to Wintra’s room.
“Damn!” he said again. “Torr and Wintra will need the other bedchamber. The bedchambers that are left are far too small for us. I will not even fit the beds.”
Dawn pointed to each of them and with disappointment in her eyes, held up two fingers and spread them apart.”
Cree planted his face close to hers. “Do not dare suggest we sleep separate. That will not happen.”
Dawn shrugged.
His arm tightened around her waist. “We will share a bed tonight as we always do and I will make love to you as I do each night.”
She gestured several times before Cree understood.
“You think it will take a miracle?”
She nodded, smiled, and gestured slowly.
“You are confident I will perform a miracle, since I have already performed one.” He quickly asked, “What miracle is that?”
Dawn rested her hand to her chest, then rested it to her own.
“You think it is a miracle that I love you?” he asked, curling his hand around the back of her neck.
Dawn nodded, loving the warmth and strength of the way he held her firm and brought his lips closer to hers. “You have that wrong, dear wife. It is a miracle that you love the infamous Cree.”
Chapter Ten
Late that night.
Dawn stepped cautiously around the King’s soldiers, sleeping on the floor in the Great Hall, to get to Cree’s solar. She had been busy since their arrival home several hours ago and she was looking forward to finally being alone with her husband, if only there was a place for them to be alone.
She was not surprised to see Sloan in the room when she entered, talking with Cree. Sloan had arrived at Cross Hill keep just in time to help the King’s men finish off the mercenaries. When she had seen him, she had let him know how pleased she was that he had not kept them waiting.
The two men, more like brothers than friends, sat in the two chairs in front of the fireplace, their backs to her as she approached slowly. Sloan was doing all the talking while shaking his head at his own words.
“You are not seriously considering it, are you?” Sloan cast a quick glance at Cree, then answered his own question. “Of course you’re not. It would be foolish of you and everyone knows you are not a foolish man, everyone except Lucerne. She is gone for months and returns seeking permission to wed and expects you to grant it.” He kept shaking his head. “I refused her permission, as was my right, since my word was law in your absence. And I informed her that you would agree with me and forbid the union.” He turned his head to Cree. “You will refuse—but of course you will. She could not have found love so fast. That is what I told her and what does she say? She tells me it is none of my concern and she will speak with you upon your return.”
Dawn worried that Sloan’s head might dislodge from his neck, he was shaking it so much. And she could not help but smile.
Cree raised his arm, turning his hand and waving for her to take it. He had heard her enter and was eager for her to join him.
She took hold of his hand and he tugged her around in front of him and onto his lap. He nuzzled her neck once she settled comfortably, and whispered, “I have missed you.”
Dawn patted her chest to let him know she felt the same, then pointed to Sloan, still talking.
“He has been in love with a shrew and refuses to acknowledge it,” Cree explained.
“I am not in love with Lucerne, and she is no longer the shrew she once was,” Sloan snapped.
“Then I will wed her to the man of her choice.”
Sloan jumped out of his chair. “You cannot be serious. You know nothing of this man. He could be deceiving her and using her for his own ill gains. You cannot simply hand her over to him without knowing anything about him.”
“You are right,” Cree agreed. “Therefore, you will find out everything you can about the man Lucerne claims to love and who intends to ask me for permission to wed her.”
Sloan stopped shaking his head. “I will find out everything and you will see for yourself that he is not a good choice for her and refuse permission.”
“And if this man should prove decent and trustworthy, then I will grant the couple permission to wed.”
“We shall see,” Sloan said and left the room without bidding the couple goodnight.
“I wonder how long it will take him to realize he loves Lucerne,” Cree said with a laugh and pressed a quick kiss to his wife’s lips. “Everyone is settled for the night?”
Dawn exaggerated a silent sigh.
“You are glad it is all done,” he said and she nodded, “as am I. Elsa informed me that Wintra and little Shand do well as does the da.” He laughed. “Torr was asleep when I went to bid my sister good-night. You would think he had delivered the bairn.” His expression turned more serious. “I am pleased that my sister and her family are safe under my roof tonight.”
Dawn agreed with a nod. The ordeal was done. Wintra and her baby were finally out of harm’s way.
Cree smiled again. “Elsa made it known to King Alexander that if it had not been for your fast thinking and brave actions that Margaret and his daughter would not have survived. The King is indebted to you and he reminded me of it several times. You have a strong friend in the King.”
Dawn gestured quickly.
Cree laughed. “Aye, the King compliments on one hand and complains with the other. The bedchamber is too small for him and I agreed with him. He is sending the material in the spring to start the construction of our new keep and ordered me to make our bedchamber larger in case he wishes to visit us again, under different circumstances of course.”
Dawn raised her hand to her mouth to cover her yawn.
“You are tired. It has been an exhausting two days for you.”
She patted his chest.
“I am bigger and stronger, therefore, I do not grow as tired as you.”
Another yawn stopped her from disagreeing and she laid her head on his chest, feeling the toll of the long, hard day catching up with her.
“You need a bed to sleep in.”
Dawn raised her head to nod and shake.
Cree grinned. “You want the bed, but not the sleep.”
She nodded slowly and went to smile, but a yawn stole it away. She clasped her hands together and rested them to her cheek, then shook her head and shrugged.
Cree spoke her concern aloud. “There is no place for us to sleep.”
She nodded and sighed, her shoulders slumping.
“Have you no faith in me?” he asked curtly, but with a smile.
Dawn threw her arms wide.
“Always! That is better, wife.” He slipped her off his lap after a quick kiss and grabbed two cloaks draped over a chair. He slipped one on, before placing the other on Dawn.
She was ready to follow him out the door, curious of where he was taking her, when he scooped her up in his arms.
“You are too tired to walk, I am not.” He carried her through the Great Hall and a grunt or groan was occasionally heard as he stepped on someone.
Dawn turned her face up to the dark night sky as soon as Cree stepped outside. The cold air stung her face and she was surprised to see how clear the sky was, not a single cloud covered the slim, crescent-shaped moon. She looked to see where they were headed and a smile grew to ca
pture her whole face.
Cree stopped a few feet from the cottage that Dawn had once occupied and now belonged to Sloan.
Dawn turned questioning eyes on him.
“I kicked Sloan out for the night,” Cree said.
Dawn gasped and shook her head.
Cree laughed. “He offered the cottage to us.”
Dawn smiled and rested her head on Cree’s shoulder as he walked to the front door. It was a place that held memories, more good than bad. It was the place where she realized she loved Cree more than ever and did not want to live without him. It was the place where she realized he truly loved her and it was the place where their twins were conceived.
Cree set her on her feet in the room beyond the curtain, the room they had spent much time in making love. She looked around, her eyes widening at the freshly dressed bed.
“I had Flanna see to changing the bedding.”
Dawn smiled and let her cloak slip off her shoulders. All her garments followed quickly and she stood in front of him naked as she had done so many times in this room.
Cree went to her and ran his hand gently over her breasts. “You are beautiful.”
She tugged at his garments and he disposed of them with haste.
Dawn rested her hand on his hard chest and let it drift down along his stomach and just as she was about to take hold of him, she yawned wide and long.
Cree scooped her up and laid her on the bed, slipping in beside her, and pulled the blankets over them.
Dawn was eager to make love with him, fearing sleep would claim her much too soon and deprive her of the pleasure. She sighed inwardly when Cree eased her on her side and drew her back to rest against him. She sighed even harder when his arm slipped over her hip and his hand caressed her stomach. She could not wait for his hand to move lower and his fingers to dip between her legs.
His hand stilled and she waited to see what he would do. Nothing. His hand remained still. Then she heard light snoring in her ear. Had he fallen asleep? She turned her head and from the corner of her eye, she saw that his eyes were closed and his light snoring grew louder in her ear.
He had fallen asleep.
She got annoyed. He had never fallen asleep while making love to her. She had been waiting to make love with him since they had arrived home. The thought of what awaited her as she had helped settle her guests had got her through the strenuous night. And what does her husband do? Disappoint her.
Highlander's Rescue A Cree & Dawn Short Story (Cree & Dawn Short Stories Book 4) Page 8
